Saddened at the passing of James Herbert, author of those books I read when I should have been reading Thomas Hardy, Shakespeare and A E Housman on my English Literature course all those years ago.

Only a tenuous link with Crowley:

For photo shoots, the king of horror often sports black leather jackets and poses in one of two sinister-looking chairs that belonged to Aleister Crowley, the Satanist and self-styled wickedest man in the world. --- Sussex Life

Unto him from whose eyes the veil of life hath fallen may there be granted the accomplishment of his true Will; whether he will absorption in the Infinite, or to be united with his chosen and preferred, or to be in contemplation, or to be at peace, or to achieve the labour and heroism of incarnation on this planet or another, or in any Star, or aught else, unto him may there be granted the accomplishment of his will; yea, the accomplishment of his will.

Ouroboros Press is offering a portfolio of Nine photographic prints of the LVX & NOX Signs as shot by occult photographer Carlos Melgoza of Anima Nocturna. The portfolio is accompanied by the rite, 'Revelation of the Midnight Sun' by Frater S.A.L., and is limited to 26 hand numbered sets only.

The LVX = NOX series of images were originally produced by Carlos Melgoza as silver gelatin mural prints and presented at the 1st annual Esoteric Book Conference in Seattle, Washington. The nine mural prints were displayed in the form of scrolls, likening their presentation to that of Tibetan tankas. As images representative of ritual postures, the large format lends itself to visual explication in a striking way. More than merely didactic representations of the signs, the subjects manifest the force behind the forms which the gestures are meant to embody.

Esoteric imagery is rarely made by the hands of those experienced both in the arts and ritual practices themselves, and in the case of photography the task is all the more difficult to master. Melgoza has demonstrated that in his fifteen plus years as an occult image maker that he can bring such experience through, be it via portraiture or composite representation and the LVX = NOX images do not disappoint.

I've had the enormous good fortune of reading an advance copy of Antti Balk's superb new work, Balderdash: A Treatise on Ethics.

From the book's cover:

God. The Devil. Santa Claus. Sin. Grace. Guilt. Faith. Hope. Despair. Doubt. Certainty. Conviction. Good. Bad. Evil. Hitler. Bush. Obama. Truth. Fact. Opinion. Intelligence. Knowledge. Wisdom. Custom. Tradition. Precedent. Disobedience. Rebellion. Revolution. Liberty. Equality. Fraternity. Laziness. Selfishness. Greed. Pain. Suffering. Conflict. Safety. Freedom. Responsibility. Murder. Execution. Genocide. Property. Theft. Taxes. Rules. Laws. Regulations. Blasphemy. Obscenity. Prostitution. Marriage. Family. Children. School. Gangs. Prison. Cannabis. Opium. LSD. Alcohol. Tobacco. Firearms. OxyContin. Ritalin. Prozac. Violence. Schizophrenia. PTSD. Iraq. Afghanistan. Kosovo. Heroism. Patriotism. Nationalism. Taliban. Al-Qaeda. CIA. Oil. Gas. The U.S. Dollar. Capitalism. Communism. Fascism. Conservatives. Liberals. Moderates. Polls. Referendums. Initiatives. Democracy. Autocracy. Aristocracy. Rights. Privileges. Freedoms. Debt. Slavery. Work. Retirement. Pensions. Welfare. Mortgages. Student Loans. Private Consumption. Government Spending. Quantitative Easing. Inflation. Monopolies. Bailouts. Subsidies. Outsourcing. Trade Deficits. Globalization. Foreign Aid. Minimum Wage. Illegal Immigration. Universal Health Care. Western Medicine. Alternative Medicine. ADHD. Shyness. Depression. Vitamins. Minerals. Hormones. Vaccines. Antibiotics. Invasive Surgery. FDA. DEA. USDA. Education. Schooling. Propaganda. Politics. Religion. Advertising. Fashion. Hollywood. CNN. Stress. Happiness. Positive Thinking. Conditioning. Medication. Therapy. Science. Technology. Nature. Agriculture. Genetic Manipulation. Biofuels. Chemicals. Toxins. Obesity. Vegetarianism. Organic Farming. Local Food. Animal Rights. Climate Change. Recycling. Nuclear Power. Alternative Energy. Perpetual Motion. Peak Oil. Overpopulation. Extinction. Humans. Plants. Animals. Men. Women. Hermaphrodites. Embryos. Stem Cells. DNA. Racism. Sexism. Feminism. Love. Hate. Jealousy. Monogamy. Polygamy. Henogamy. Dowries. Divorces. Alimony. Childlessness. Singlehood. Adultery. Cohabitation. Single Parenthood. Joint Custody. Abortion. Birth Control. Teenage Pregnancy. Virginity. Celibacy. Pornography. Ethics is Balderdash.

The 4th annual Esoteric Book Conference is hosting a special exhibition commemorating 20 years of publishing by Fulgur and Xoanon. Publishing directors Robert Ansell and Daniel Schulke will co-present: Genius Libris: The Book As Auric Object as a part of the event.